As Bell Bottom makes its internet debut a month after its theatrical release, Akshay believes the positive response from the public and industry has supported his plea for a big-screen-first approach.
He is one of Bollywood’s most business-savvy performers. When Akshay Kumar was looking for a theatrical run for Bell Bottom, however, business was not his primary focus. Instead, the superstar opted to support a broader cause: the restoration of movie theatres. In his opinion, the goodwill gained much surpasses a film’s financial success. Today, he is comfortable in knowing that he made the correct decision; Bell Bottom debuted to great reviews on Amazon Prime Video last week after making a fair sum at the box office.
The actor begins, “The admiration that it is receiving makes all of the hard effort seem worthwhile.” The spy thriller directed by Ranjit M Tewari debuted in theatres in mid-August, despite Maharashtra’s theatre ban. “I was a little disappointed since, despite the 50% occupancy requirement, theatres hadn’t opened up everywhere. But, in my opinion, each picture has its own fate. Bell Bottom received a lot of affection and admiration from the public and the business for spearheading the resurrection of the movie theatre.”
Last year, Kumar had a taste of a digital debut with Laxmii (2020). How does he see the over-the-top (OTT) explosion of the last year and a half? “Many films are opting for a direct-to-OTT release, which means platforms are adding fresh titles to their library. Despite the limits imposed by Covid-19, content providers have a way to display their work. As a result, it’s a win-win situation for both parties,” he says.
However, Kumar and the Sooryavanshi team are adamant about making the cop caper a cinematic experience. Although Rohit Shetty’s directorial debut has taken a long time to reach theatres, the actor remains unfazed. “It’s pointless to be distressed. Rohit and Reliance [Entertainment] will make the final choice. It’s their film as much as it is mine. Whatever decision they make, I’m certain it will be in the best interests of the film.”
